Cork take major stride to destiny

National League, Premier Division: Cork City 1, Shelbourne 0 Cork City took a major stride towards the eircom League Premier Division title with a spirited win over the champions Shelbourne before their delighted fans in an attendance of about 7,000 at Turner's Cross last night.

Cork out-played Shelbourne in the opening half and found an unlikely goal-scoring hero in full-back Neal Horgan. He turned up on the edge of the Shels penalty area to claim the critical goal in the 23rd minute.

From there until the final whistle the stadium rocked with atmosphere as Cork fans cheered them home. Shelbourne now trail Cork by 17 points and although they have a game in hand the possibility of Cork letting a lead of that size slip must be viewed as remote.

Cork's attitude was admirable from the start and they dominated the game to half-time when they should have been more securely in front. The one-goal advantage they enjoyed was the result of an enterprising piece of football that was too smooth, too accurate and too decisive for Shels.

The goal came when John O'Flynn won a ball in midfield and found Liam Kearney. He linked with Neale Fenn and his deft flick found Joe Gamble closing on goal from the left hand-side of the penalty area.

The pace of the ball did not allow Gamble to shoot, however, and he showed composure to turn away from goal, check his options and then play a superb pass into the path of Horgan for him to strike the ball cleanly to the net from 18 yards.

Shelbourne, in contrast, put a lot of faith in the overhead approach. They brought Glen Crowe and Jason Byrne into the action via the overhead route throughout the opening half and it was not until they changed their approach they began to threaten.

Wes Hoolahan finally began to get involved after Cork had ruled the game in midfield through Gamble and Greg O'Halloran.

He set Shelbourne in motion in the 28th minute with a pass to Crowe and when Dave Crawley swung the ball into the penalty area it was Crowe who met it with a header that flew narrowly wide.

Again Shels threatened in the air in the 39th minute. This time it was Jason Byrne who took a pass from Crowe on the left of the penalty area. His cross outside the far upright was met high in the air by Richie Baker but goalkeeper Michael Devine was equal to the challenge to hold his header.

Shelbourne's approach in the second half only served to emphasise their adherence to the overhead policy. High balls rained in on the Cork goal but a defence that played superbly in front of a marvellous goalkeeper in Devine defied them.

Byrne was too high with a free from 22 yards and Shelbourne filled the Cork area with their tall defenders as they forced a succession of corner kicks and frees. But when Shels withdrew Ollie Cahill and Byrne as early as the 58th minute it was clear the champions were concerned.

The heat generated by a rousing contest inevitably led to many physical challenges and the referee should, perhaps, have taken a tougher line earlier in the game. His hand was finally forced, however, when Richie Baker earned a second yellow card in the 83rd minute and as a result of the fracas that ensued Cork's Danny Murphy and Shelbourne's Owen Heary received yellow cards.

None of it upset Cork, however, and they remained secure until the final whistle.

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; O'Donovan, Gamble, O'Halloran, Kearney, Fenn, O'Flynn. Subs: O'Brien for O'Donovan (71 mins), Behan for Fenn (85), Coughlan for Kearney (90)

SHELBOURNE: Delaney: Heary, Hawkins, Rogers, Crawley; Baker, Fleming, Hoolahan, Cahill, Byrne, Crowe. Subs: Harris for Byrne, Moore for Cahill (both 58 mins), Chambers for Fleming (67)

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin)